Chris

As everyone who partakes in this activity already knows, walking is the easiest exercise around. It improves the body and mind equally. Until martial law is enforced, walking is still available to those of us not wanting to stay indoors. But why wait for a deadly virus as an excuse? These examples below are all do-able. Ask me how I know.

• Frequent walks
• Weather be damned, just do it.
• Leave the phone
• Take the phone, bring headphones
• Music, podcasts, audio books
• The right sock & shoes for the right path
• Take the different path. Get lost. Adventure time.
• Do it for the steps.
• Don’t do it for the steps. Not everything has to be quantified.
• Turn on autopilot and think/solve the problems you are working on
• solvitur ambulando
• Have fun by taking photos, listening to surroundings, stomp in puddles
• Enjoy the solitude
• Bring a companion
• Walk & talk
• Take a hike
• Bring a notebook and document something/anything/everything

While a pandemic is going on during the few weeks before Holy Week it is starting to feel like Lent around here. The forced discipline of slowing down and stepping away does have its benefits though.

Self-care

Because a lot of my external inspiration such as museums, book stores, libraries are closed, I am forced to find alternative but still helpful ways to inspire, entertain myself. Slowing myself down and finding contentment is more accurate. Small acts of self-care are happening as well. Routine maintenance if you will. Here we go:

Take A Walk

Living so close to the office, there are times when I will take a 20-30m walk to work. There are not too many people walking around in the dark at 6am. Sure I can count it as exercise just to get in my daily 10,000 steps but it is also reflective and therapeutic. It gets my blood flowing. I enjoy the cool wind on my face and the fresh air unspoiled by commuters. It’s a great way to shift into second gear as my work day starts.

Stretch

It doesn’t happen every morning but when I have the chance to do a quick yoga or stretch time it does have the power to change my day. I find that if I set my alarm to wake 15m earlier, I will spend that time on the mat.

Wash Up

During the pandemic we are told to wash our hands for twenty seconds. Choosing to use warm water and soap is soothing. I could see this as an inconvenience in my busy day or I could appreciate this small time of reflection, to breathe and appreciate this self-care. With this mindset I am well over 20 seconds. The same for prepping dishes for the dishwasher. I could see this as a chore or I can be grateful for this amazing resource.

The Great Outdoors

I have been spending a lot of reflective time on the front porch lately. A bit of an informal meditation. My eyes are open and I take in everything around me. And usually there is a lot to take in. From there I will close my eyes and feel the elements. Birds chirping is good. Phone vibrating with texts is bad. I find myself doing this when I am in nature. The most recent time was a visit to Arkansas. Warming sun, water flowing, wind with a bit of a chill. Refreshing.

Make Soup

One of the best things in life is soup. It is world-renowned for its simplicity of nourishment.

Spontaneous Napping

Naps are always a good idea. A few years ago I would have disagreed with this. I needed to stay awake, be productive. Don’t waste the day! Don’t waste the precious time off. Times have changed. I don’t protest a good nap anymore. I don’t even fight it. I won’t get upset if I intend to close my eyes for just ten minutes but woke up two hours later instead.

Anti-Media

I am grateful I have dismissed the need to scroll through the news sites or social media. I cannot imagine the hype, finger pointing and misguided opinions from opposing sides. And I don’t care to see bored people creating auto-tuned singing or dance moves at home either.

On 2/2 I began my year long journey to create life long habits for myself and throw in some fun intentions as well. The plan is to check in every month to monitor my progress. How did I do since my last check in on 3/3?

Nutrition & Training

Thanks to COVID-19 and quarantine, I have been eating at home more. Eating out has decreased (not by much, but it counts.) However, since I haven’t been walking to work the cardio has been limited. I’m feeling it. I re-gained two out of the five pounds lost. The bicycle has helped a little bit.

Yoga & Meditation

Another benefit the work from home situation has is extra sleep in the morning. I haven’t been waking up in the 5am hour lately and I have time to workout here at home. Mainly yoga and stretching. Amazing how much that kicks my butt. Meditation and breathing is a big part of this so I am on track with both of these. Namaste at home.

Photography & Writing

Slow progress in organizing the decades worth of photos in the archives. The Vault is setup and the images now need to be culled. After that, I can begin the process of further organizing and printing. I received negatives from the print lab and some scans. Why did I not spring to have prints made? What am I going to do with these negatives? Yes they were a test but I can’t fully see the results. Duh.
The only writing I have been doing is here and in my journal. Nothing contributed to the novel or short stories. Not even micro fiction.

5/5

Despite this friggin’ virus I do believe I am picking up the pace for this year long journey. Looking forward to sharing this month’s results on 5/5.

I know I feel better after reading a good book, practicing meditation, conversations, a good nap and some contemplative writing.

Who needs a pandemic?

One benefit to this world-wide virus event is that I have more time to do with as I please. Plans are cancelled or postponed, stay-at-home orders are in effect (although I did sneak across the border and into Arkansas today), dining out is not an option unless you enjoy eating in your car (fried chicken picnic by an Arkansas pond was different), but how much longer can this go on? What if the next two months are the same, or worse, locked down even tighter?

I am taking this day by day. That’s all I have. I can’t count on tomorrow. I’m not glued to my television, I don’t refresh the news websites, thank goodness I am not on social media and blasted with misinformation and fear. Is any of that necessary? No. I’ve proven that for the past couple of years and I am not missing out. I have time but I also want to make use of this time.

Eventually this thing will fizzle out. We’ll all flood the restaurants and bars and shopping malls soon enough. The offices and small businesses will open again and people will go back to work as they had before. The gyms will fill up with sweaty people, we can visit family and friends in their homes. Handshakes and hugs will be more heartfelt.

And when this virus has passed, can I look back and tell myself I was satisfied with the extra time I had? I still want to work out more at home, read and write more, experiment with my film photography, pick up that ukulele and at least make sure it’s tuned properly and more.

I’ve been reading the old stoic philosophers and I liked this quote from Seneca: “It is not that we have a short time to live, but we waste a lot of it.”

Sleep
Meditate/pray
Workout
Check on family and friends
Reading
Writing
Better nutrition
Learn something new
Build your own music playlists for moods
Watch something different than usual and no more than 2 hrs
Solve the world’s problems in conversations
Play games
Laugh

The best part of this list? I don’t need some damned virus as an excuse to do any of this. These are my goals and hobbies. For me. If this was my last day and I was able to do a few of these then so be it.

I am proud to know people who are blessed with common sense and intelligence and I am even proud to know others who are fearful, anxious and nervous. This globe-trotting virus is crazy and is causing a lot of fear, anxiety and nervousness.

The usual ways most people cope aren’t working right now. We can’t procrastinate or avoid this. We can’t ignore it. We do not have control, we can’t quit this, we can’t lash out (we can, but to no good), the same goes for worrying about it. The sooner we throw all of these feelings out the better.

I can flip out or I can be more mindful and meditate. Meditation is not a cure all but it can help anxiousness and frustration.

I’ve been selfish. The freedom to do and go as I please was not fully appreciated until safety restrictions were enforced. I need to start embracing these constraints. I spent this past winter embracing the quiet times, to read, write, organize my thoughts and even sleep better. I can continue these things a while longer. But as a social extrovert who thrives being outdoors and travel, this isn’t easy. I can be bitter that my upcoming southwest adventures are postponed or I can be mindful and productive.

I’m choosing the latter.

Weeks ago, we were living on the greatest planet in the known universe but now we are living in quarantine for our own good and are living with constraints instead. We are learning that constraints can be beneficial. It is maddening to be restricted in such a way but again, maybe it’s for the best.

We are learning how to adapt how we work, play and rest. I’d like to add that we need constraints on media consumption. Less news, less screens. We need to be embracing these constraints and explore our creativity. Learn to be creative with what we have in the pantry, play with the toys we already have instead of wanting what we don’t have, and look for that bright side.

Sure, I am angry and frustrated at these constraints at first but I will adapt. I am adapting, slowly, but not easily. I have to learn how to vent this frustration in a more creative manner. Why don’t I embrace the improving weather and kick a ball around? Preferably kicked hard against a solid surface. Curate music playlists based on improving moods, read that novel. There are still trails to explore, parks to walk.

When the situation returns to some sense of normalcy we should find ourselves better for it and continue to enjoy this time we have left.

I’ve never been accused of being a sketch artist or good at drawing but I am more of a “doodler.”

My first attempt at comic book sketches was titled “Snake Eyes” that followed an ordinary snake fixed with two dice for eyeballs. The series probably didn’t make it past issue #2. I tried recreating simple comics like “The Far Side” or “Bloom County” but I just don’t have that talent. I never had the patience or the time to practice. Not when playing outside was available.

Alas, my drawing skills have not evolved from the second grade but I do find myself having a little more patience. I appreciate the therapeutic process and less on the end result that only a select few may or may not see.

I cannot be good at everything and that’s okay. For a hobby, I think doodling is just fine.

A reminder to self: when things are taken away (including this period of social distancing), it is time to appreciate what I have.

“I don’t know why I was born with this belief in something deeper and larger than we can see. But it’s always called. Even as a boy, I knew that trees and light and sky all point to some timeless center out of view. I have spent my
life listening to that center and filtering it through my heart. This listening
and filtering is the music of my soul, of all souls.

After almost fifty years, I’ve run out of ways to name this. Even now,
my heart won’t stand still.”

• Mark Nepo